So, What's Changed?

What’s different? I’ve been quiet while Gopher Nation’s gotten on Punky’s bandwagon. I even hitched a ride myself, to the extent of finding a place to watch the Rodents play Saturday mornings.

Until today, that is. Yes, it only takes is one loss to hop off the Brewster bandwagon. What’s the tight ends coach done to demonstrate he’s any improvement over his predecessor? Mason’s teams couldn’t “get over the hump,” couldn’t “win the big one.” One season after another played out the same way: Beat up on a few creampuffs, lose to one or more Big Ten “powerhouse,” programs (Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State). Split games with the Big Ten’s “have nots,” (Indiana, Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue). Close the season taking a beating in the “border battles,” with Wisconsin and Iowa.

Limp in with an 8-4 or 7-5 record (Mason often did better than that by a game or so). Go to a third-tier bowl, where a few Golden Gopher faithful barely fill a single stadium section.

For perspective, it’s still more fun than watching Chilly’s Vikings, and the Rodents had a better day than the Dawgs.

It can be entertaining along the way. Jeannie and I had a great time watching the Rodents thump Alabama at the Music City Bowl, and Nashville’s a far more entertaining place than, say Orlando, or San Antonio. We spent a couple of seasons in the Metrodome with Goldy watching Marion, and Laurence set records. We were fans. I still am. But I know the difference between new and old, between different and the same. So far, this is the same.